Special to the Leader

 Scarborough resident and owner of Brown Fox Printing Russ Burleigh believes in the magic of Christmas. To him, it doesn’t matter how people find the magic – some through shopping, some through cooking, some through travel and some through spending time together with the ones they care about – the important thing is that they find it, he said. 

  Part of what makes this time of year special for Burleigh is the different routes people take to get there. No two paths are exactly the same, he said.

  This was the original thought that sparked the idea for the “Magic of Christmas” holiday spectacular, celebrating its 29^th season in Portland this year. The production will begin its 13-show run at the Merrill Auditorium next week.

  Burleigh is the former long-time executive director of the Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) and he, along with then conductor Bruce Hangen, were the two men who came up with the “Magic” concept, title and program.

  “We were looking to do something different,” Burleigh said. “At the time, there were symphony concerts or theatrical programs like the Nutcracker, but nothing that really captured the feeling of a contemporary Christmas celebration. Down in Boston, Arthur Fiedler had introduced a lively musical program called the Pops. We thought a show like that, with a little bit of everything – dance, music and spoken word dialog – would be appealing to Portland audiences too.”

   Returning for the first time in more than 20 years to conduct the show he helped create, Hangen was the PSO’s music director for 10 seasons. Hangen conducted the first “Magic of Christmas” performances and was also the founding artistic director of Portland’s PORTopera. He is currently the director of Orchestral Activities at the Boston Conservatory and artistic director of Indian Hill Music in Massachusetts. 

“From its beginnings, “Magic of Christmas” has always been an exciting local artistic partnership, and this year is especially rich because of the diversity of Maine talents involved,” Hangen said. “I’m looking forward to coming back to Portland and working with some of the same talented musicians I worked with in the 80s. I always feel connected to Portland’s audiences and artistic communities, so it feels very much like coming home to me.”

 Filled with seasonal classics, heartwarming carols and festive favorites, The “Magic of Christmas” has been a holiday favorite for nearly three decades. Hangen said that the longevity of the program may not really sink in until he steps on stage for the opening performance.

  “It’s pretty amazing to think that there will likely be parents with young children in the audience who came with their parents when we first started doing this thing,” he said.  

  This year, the PSO has once again brought together a collaboration of local talents making the event a veritable “who’s who” of current and past artistic performance in Maine.

Singer, actor and broadcaster Suzanne Nance narrates the “Magic of Christmas” this year for the first time. Audiences will recognize her voice from Maine Public Broadcasting Network, where she serves as music director as well as producer and host of the weekday morning classical music program. 

  Both the Maine State Ballet and the Portland Ballet Company, including Scarborough resident Arianna Lawson, will perform variations from the Nutcracker this year. The program will also feature the Windham Chamber Singers, critically acclaimed tenor Matthew DiBattista singing “A Crooner’s Christmas” and Ray Cornils, municipal organist for the city of Portland, performing the Organ Prelude on the Kotzschmar Organ.

  Speaking about the broad range of music he has planned this year, Hangen said “from sacred melodies to rousing sing-alongs, the “Magic of Christmas” will have something for the whole family. I’m really excited about it.” 

Tickets are currently available through PortTix or at the PSO box office at 20 Myrtle Street in Portland. Prices range from $20 to $60, with special pricing available for students and seniors.